单选题 Directions: Read the following text. Choose the best word or
phrase for each numbered blank and mark A, B, C or D on your ANSWER SHEET.
The first English dictionary, called an
Alphabetical Table of Hard Words, was published in 1604. The dictionary was
actually{{U}} (26) {{/U}}a list of about 3 000 difficult words, each
followed by a one word{{U}} (27) {{/U}}. The author, Robert
Cawdrey,{{U}} (28) {{/U}}to include everyday words in his
dictionary.{{U}} (29) {{/U}}, he reasoned, would ever have to look up a
word in a dictionary if he already knew the meaning of the word. During the
1600' s more dictionaries were published. Each followed Cawdrey' s{{U}} (30)
{{/U}}and presented a few thousand{{U}} (31) {{/U}} words. Around
1700 one dictionary maker, John Kersey,{{U}} (32) {{/U}}define
easy words as well as hard ones. But until the 1750' s all dictionaries
were rather{{U}} (33) {{/U}}and not very valuable.
A man named Dr. Samuel Johnson{{U}} (34) {{/U}}all this. In 1755
Dr. Johnson produced the first modern dictionary. He{{U}} (35) {{/U}}in
his dictionary all important words, both easy and hard, and he gave good
meanings. He also gave good sentences to show how each word was{{U}} (36)
{{/U}}used in speech and{{U}} (37) {{/U}}. By the end of the 1700' s
most dictionary makers{{U}} (38) {{/U}}Johnson' s lead. Dictionaries
were getting better and better. The 1800' s{{U}} (39)
{{/U}}the greatest improvement{{U}} (40) {{/U}}the quality of
dictionaries. In England scholars planned and prepared the Oxford English
dictionary, a{{U}} (41) {{/U}}work. One of the most
interesting{{U}} (42) {{/U}}of the Oxford Dictionary is its word
histories. It{{U}} (43) {{/U}}the history of each word from its
earliest{{U}} (44) {{/U}}use{{U}} (45) {{/U}}the time of the
printing of the dictionary.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】[A]no less than多达，不少于；[B]much less than与…相比少得多；[C]nothing more than只不过是，仅仅是；[D]much more than与…相比多得多。本句意为：这本字典实际上(只不过)是大约 3000难词的一个清单。actually在这里起了极强的提示作用，C选项是当然之选。
【答案解析】[A]made no attempt并不想尝试；[B]had trouble有麻烦；[C] took great pains不辞辛苦地；[D]tried his best尽力而为。本题四个词组存在比较大的意义差别，需通过文意来甄别。根据下文：他 (指Cawdrey)断定，如果使用者知道词义他就没必要去查阅词典。可以判断出Cawdrey并不想“把所有单词尽收其中”，所以A选项最适合。
【答案解析】[A]satisfied使…满意，符合；[B]changed改变、转换：[C] maintained维持，维修；[D]sustained支撑、支持。Dr．Samuel Johnson这个人到底对all this干了些什么呢?由下文知道他produced the first modern dictionary，这个伟大举动应该用change all this更好的表达出来。
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】由下文的all important words，both easy and hard可以看出 [A]excluded(排除、赶出)、[B]supplemented(增补、补给)、[C] complemented(补充、补足)均不合文意。而[D]选项included(包括在内、包含)恰能表现出新词典与以前词典的显著区别。